Wrestling God Part 2: Failing to surrender
Jacob engages in an all night battle with God, he refuses to let up until God injures Him. Jacob fails to surrender. That’s a weird statement for most of us, after all Surrender is failure, right? Not always. Andy Stanley says “submission is an invitation to leadership?” If we are to invite God to lead our lives it will require our surrender. When we fail to surrender we fail to submit, when we fail to submit we are resisting the leadership of God.
This night with Jacob is a watershed moment. God locks him up and finally has to injure Jacob to obtain his surrender. Paul mentions a thorn in his flesh which God refused to remove. Authors have speculated as the whether this was a physical disability or a spiritual battle. Regardless, Paul is clear the challenge he faced was a gift from God because it created a greater dependence on Paul’s part.
What would God do to obtain your surrender?
Is it possible you are so engaged in a battle resisting the pursuit of God you are needing Him to cause infirmary? Is it possible God is asking you to surrender to a new course?